The first amateur production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock—The Musical opens March 3, performed by the students of the Oakland School for the Arts at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, while the original Broadway production is barely four months into its run.
Other shows have released stock and amateur rights during their original runs, often in "junior" versions, but composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and R&H Theatricals announced last fall that School of Rock would start accepting applications for the amateur productions even before the original production had begun Broadway previews November 9.
The San Francisco production is scheduled to run eight performances, March 3-12. OSA students range in age from 11-17.
Their production is being presented as part of "Curran: Under Construction," a series of "intimate and non-traditional programming" curated by Broadway producer Carole Shorenstein Hays, who said, "I've always felt my role at the Curran comes with both the responsibility and the opportunity to use this magnificent building to enrich the community in which it stands. It is equally important to me that we serve existing theatre goers and theatre makers while nurturing the next generation. The chance to welcome OSA students onto our stage to perform the first ever amateur production of School of Rock is the perfect expression of our mission."
Lloyd Webber commented, "What initially drew me to School of Rock is that it is entirely about empowering students with music. This initiative is a natural extension of that message, and as such is near and dear to my heart. I look forward to visiting the Curran to see these students take on our show." According to production notes, School of Rock — The Musical "follows Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. Completely disinterested in academic work, Dewey decides to create his own curriculum, turning his class into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band."
Other student groups wishing to stage the show can visit rnh.com to apply.
In a statement last fall, Lloyd Webber said, "This musical is entirely about empowering kids to rock out, so what better way to herald its arrival and celebrate its themes than to allow youth performances from coast to coast. This will allow young fans to engage with the material in a much deeper way, and we think will only heighten enthusiasm for our Broadway premiere."
School of Rock opened Dec. 6 at at the Winter Garden Theatre where it continues to run. Tickets for the Broadway production can be ordered at Schoolofrockthemusical.com/tickets. Orders can also be placed by phone at (800) 447-7400.
Warner Bros. Records released the original Broadway cast album Dec. 4. The album will includes 12 original songs by Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater, in addition to three songs from the film.
